From July 15 to 22, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 503 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 37 violations of environmental regulations-- 26 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry, 4 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry and 7 related to a gathering pipeline construction erosion and sedimentation control failure..

So far this year-- as of July 14-- DEP issued 3,535 formal notices of violation to conventional operators (108 more since last week) and 795 to unconventional shale gas operators (34 more this week) based on 8,428  inspections of conventional facilities and 13,498 inspections of unconventional shale gas facilities.

New Conventional Well Abandonments

On July 17, DEP inspected several wells operated by Medina Res Dev Co LLC and found these five conventional wells abandoned and not plugged--  Sanders Ray 2 - Washington Township, Erie County; JD Albert 1, Andrew & Mary Kula 1, Wasielwski Leon & Elda 1 in Waterford Township, Erie County; and Kurtz Fichthorn 3 in Le Boeuf Township, Erie County.

DEP’s inspection reports note none of these wells were included in a consent order and agreement signed with Medina.

DEP requested a written report by July 26, 2023 on how the operator intends to bring these wells into compliance and notices of violation were issued.. 

The DEP inspection report for Wasielwski well, is posted as an example.

On July 18, DEP inspected three conventional gas wells operated by Chestnut Ridge Energy of PA LLC and found them all abandoned and not plugged-- Bricillo 1 in Cherryhill Township, Indiana County; Emanuel & Clawson 1 well in Buffington Township, Indiana County; and the Gary Sipos 1 well in Buffington Township, Indiana County.

DEP’s inspection reports requested the operator to provide a written report by August 20, 2023 to explain how they plan to bring the wells into compliance and notices of violation were issued.

Here are DEP inspection reports for Gary Sipos (well capped with a rock);  Bricillo 1; and Emanuel & Clawson.

Conventional Well Spills

On July 18, DEP inspected the Kenneth Mumau conventional well operated by Dakota Oil & Gas Co. in Grant Township, Indiana County after the operator reported a July 13 wastewater spill caused by a mowing incident by the landowner.  Approximately, 210 gallons of wastewater was spilled.

The wastewater tank was removed prior to the inspection, impacted soil excavated and covered with a liner, and more excavation is needed.

The inspection report says the operator will clean up the site to Act 2 Land Recycling Program standards.

A written report on the incident and clean up is due to DEP by August 18, 2023 and notices of violation related to the spill were issued.

On July 17, DEP inspected Medina Res Dev Co, LLC’s Howard & Dorris Proctor well in Waterford Township, Erie County and found the production storage tank ripped open and corroded.

DEP’s inspection report requests a written report by July 26, 2023 on how the operator will bring the site into compliance.

On July 20, DEP inspected several conventional wells operated by Shelex Drilling Inc. and found Stoltzfus 3 in Concord Township, Erie County open to the atmosphere and leaking fluid on the ground for which notices of violation were issued.

DEP’s inspection report requested a written report by August 17, 2023 on how the operator is going to bring the site into compliance.

Shale Gas Well Pad Remediation

On July 17, DEP did a follow up inspection of the Seneca Resources Co LLC’s Covington shale gas well pad in Covington Township, Tioga County to check progress on cleanup of a small production wastewater spill.

DEP’s inspection report noted 40 tons of material were removed from the pad surface as part of the remediation of a spill estimated to be one barrel (42 gallons).  DEP said the impacted area would be cleaned up using Act 2 Land Recycling Program standards.

Notices of violation related to the spill were continued in the report.

DEP also noted Seneca was just starting the process of drilling out plugs in each of the six shale gas wells on the pad.

Pipeline Construction Sediment BMP Failure

On July 19, DEP inspected the EQM Gathering OPCO LLC Trust to Beacon Pipeline in Wayne and Gilmore Townships in Greene County and found an erosion and sediment control failure due to a heavy storm that resulted in a discharge of sediment to Toms Run.

DEP noted repairs were being made to the BMPs involved in the stream crossing and construction was expected to continue.

Notices of violation were issued related to the incident and failure of the BMPs.

Federal Well Plugging

DEP inspectors continued to inspect federally-funded conventional well plugging sites, last week in Allegheny County (Moon Township); Armstrong County (Gilpin, Manor & Wayne Townships); McKean County (2-Eldred Township); Venango County (Cranberry Township); and Washington County (Canton & Cecil Townships).

No violations were found.

Dimock Area Inspections

DEP inspectors last week focused 20+ inspections on Coterra Energy Inc. shale gas wells in Susquehanna County in and around the Dimock area.  No violations were found.

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

(Photo: Chestnut Ridge Energy of PA LLC Bricillo 1 abandoned; Medina Res Dev Co LLC Proctor tank failure; Shelex Drilling Inc. Stoltzfus 3 abandoned; Dakota Oil & Gas Co. Kenneth Mumau spill area.)

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

[Note: These may not be all the NOVs issued to oil and gas companies during this time period.  Additional inspection reports may be added to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 15 to 22;  8 More New Conventional Well Abandonments  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 22 to 28  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - July 29  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 47 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 29 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

NewsClips This Week:

-- LancasterOnline: Study Finds Radioactive Materials In PA Waterways Near Treatment Plants Linked With Oil & Gas Industry Waste

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Environmental Quality Board Dismisses Petition To Raise Well Plugging Bond Amounts For Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Proposed Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Riles Community In Fayette County

-- Warren Times: Proposed Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well In Fayette County Riles Community

-- TribLive: Olympus Energy Proposes Another Shale Gas Drilling Well Pad, Pipeline In West Deer Township, Allegheny County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Allegheny County Health Dept.  Begins Appeal Hearing On Invenergy Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed In Elizabeth Twp.

-- NRDC: PJM Electric Grid Operator Report Confirms Blackout Danger From Poor Maintenance At Natural Gas Power Plants

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak/Jonathan Salant: White House Pushing To Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Wells; Methane Accounts For 12% Of All Greenhouse Gas Emissions In PA

-- Beaver County Times Guest Essay: Here’s What’s Happening As A Result Of Shell Petrochemical Plant’s [$5 Million] Fine - By Daniel Rossi-Keen

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pittsburgh’s Problem With Shell Petrochemical Plant’s Plastic Nurdles - By Jack Doyle

Related Articles This Week:

-- Comments Submitted On Proposed Roulette Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Potter County By Save Our Streams PA Show Principals Have Been Involved In Abandoning 8 Previous Injection Wells  [PaEN]

-- DEP Signs $660,000 Penalty Agreement With Sunoco To Resolve More Violations During The Construction Of Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline In 9 Counties; Penalties Now Total Nearly $31 Million Just From DEP  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Will Release Results Of Shale Gas Development Health Impact Study On Aug. 15 In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DCED Gives UGI Utilities A $501,136 Grant For A New Natural Gas Pipeline To Serve Little Leaf Greenhouse In Carbon County  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 24, 2023]

7/31/2023